Students on the Sunshine Coast could benefit right now from a bursary of $1,000 to help them enter the world of work under a new employment initiative formulated by the Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace.
The foundation round of Mr Wallace’s Ready, Set, Go! bursary is now open for applications. One bursary will be available three times a year to students living in the Federal electorate of Fisher who are in their final year of education and preparing to enter the world of work, including school leavers and university or TAFE students in their last year of study.
As a former builder, Mr Wallace is passionate about apprenticeships and traineeships, which will be central to the Federal Government’s JobMaker plan for economic recovery. As such, in 2020, the bursaries will be specifically provided for students who are aiming to begin an apprenticeship or traineeship in the coming year. From next year, all students from those due to complete Year 10 right through to university leavers who are 25 years of age or under at the time of application will be eligible.
Mr Wallace said that the new program will not only be of practical benefit to employers and young job seekers at a difficult time in the jobs market but will also help more of our region’s young people to continue living on the Sunshine Coast.
“I know that for years, many young people on the Sunshine Coast have loved their home towns and wanted to be close to their families but have felt that they had to leave our community to fulfil their professional ambitions. The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to have exacerbated this perception. However, with access to a world class university and vocational education, and with innovative, high tech companies, financial and health services success stories and online and digital experts now operating in our region, the Sunshine Coast today can offer so much more to ambitious young locals than ever before.” Mr Wallace said.
“As part of my plan to make Fisher the place to be for education, employment and retirement and to help our region recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19, I want to do something practical to give young people a leg up.”
Eligible students can make an application now online at www.andrewwallacemp.com.au/readysetgo, explaining why they need support to prepare for the workplace and what they would use the bursary toward.
“Programs designed to support young job seekers such as my Ready, Set Go! campaign should to be highly adaptable to individual needs, so I will not be providing a prescriptive list which lays out what these bursaries can and cannot be used for. I expect I will see applications for everything from tools of a chosen trade to interview essentials like a suit as well as training programs, support to attend a conference or employment expos, and much more.” he said.
Applications will be open in three rounds of the program in May, August and November with the first round closing to applications on 15 June. Students in Fisher under the age of 25 who are interested in applying should visit www.andrewwallacemp.com.au/readysetgo for terms and conditions or contact Mr Wallace’s office for more details.
“I hope this new program will show that despite the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a person leaving education on the Sunshine Coast doesn’t need to go anywhere to build the career of their dreams or start a business that will take the world by storm. They can do it right here and they can have it all right here in the community they call home.” Mr Wallace said.
For more information on Andrew Wallace’s Ready Set Go! bursary, or to apply see www.andrewwallacemp.com.au/readysetgo
